Platform-gear for vehicles.



J. ERRETT. PLATFORM GEAR FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED JUNHI, 1910.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

WWNESSES INVENTOR JOSEPH ERRETT, or CLEVELAND, oriio.

rnATroRivI-GEAa ron VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oat. 21,1913.

Application filed June 1, 1910. Serial No. 564,437.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH Ennn'r'r, a residentof Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Platform- Gears for'Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of portions of a platform gear embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the truss rod securing plates. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top hound plate of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing a modified form of said plate and of the truss rod. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another form of my invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the lower hound plate of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the spring shackle irons of Fig. 5.

My invent-ion has relation to front or platform gears for vehicles of the general type shown in my Patent No. 922,869 of May 25, 1909; and is designed to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the splinter bar truss or braces which will permit of adjustment to take up any settling of the gear; which will provide a strong and durable construction; and which will avoid expense of forging and fitting of the parts.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings, which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes can be made in the details and construction of the parts, without depart-ing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Referring first to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 2 designates the splinter bar, which in this form extends transversely underneath the pole hounds. Secured to the under sides of the end portions of the splinter bar are the spring shackle irons 4. Secured to the upper side of the end portions of said bar are the plates or irons 5, each of which may carry a step 6, and which also preferably have the portions 7 adapted-to be secured to the usual side hounds. Each of these plates or irons 5 is also formed on its upper surface with a sleeve portion 8 having an opening therethrough and through the iron to i receive the end portion of a truss rod 9. 10

is a combined hound and brace plate which is secured to the upper side of the pole hounds 3 and has the depending brace por tions 11 which are secured to the splinter bar at 12 at each side of the pole hounds. This plate 11 has a central connecting portion 11* with slotted end portions 11 which are adapted to receive the heads or nuts 9 of the truss rods 9'. In the construction shown at Fig. 1, one of these truss rods 9 extends through the end portion I of the splinter bar, thesleev'e portion 8 of the plate or iron 5, and thence to the plate 11 with its inner end passing through and engaged with the slotted portion 11 of the plate 11. The outer end of each of these truss rods is secured by'a nut 13 having a bearing against a dependi'nglug 1 1 on the :plate 5, which lug fits against the outer end of the splinter bar.

Instead, however, of using two short truss rods as shown in Fig. 1, a continuous truss rod 15 may be employed, as shown in Fig. 4:. In this form thecentral portion 11 of the upper hound plate is provided with an extended transverse bearing for the central portion of the truss rod.

Fig. 5 shows my invention applied to a type of gear in which the splinter bar 2 instead of extending transversely underneath the pole hounds 3 extends over the same. In this form of my invention a plate 16, which corresponds to the plate 11 first described, is secured to the under side of the pole hounds with lateral bracing portions 16 secured to the splinter bar at opposite sides of the pole hounds. The plate 16 has depending slotted lugs or hooks 16 which are engaged by heads or nuts 17 on the inner ends of truss rods 17, which correspond to the truss rods 9 shown in Fig. 1, except that they are arranged underneath the splinter bar and pole hounds, and their under portions are extended upwardly through the spring shackle irons 18 and through the end portions of the splinter bar, being secured by nuts 19 at their outer ends to seat against the upturned lips or lugs 19 of the shackle irons. In this form the shackle iron is made with a sleeve portion 18 through which the truss rod passes.

It will be obvious that instead of the two short truss rods 17, I may employ a continuous truss rod, as employed in Fig. 1, but extending below the pole hounds. These truss rods can be readily adjusted to take up any settling of the gear, thus avoiding the necessity for taking the entire gear apart and putting in a new splinter bar to which the irons must be refitted.

The combined hound plates and braces form an additional truss support for the splinter bar and also an efficient bearing for the truss rod or rods. It also effectually serves to prevent spreading of the pole hounds.

The term truss rod, as used in the claims, is intended to refer either to a continuous rod, such as shown in Fig. at, or, to adivided rod, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

What I claim is:

1. In a platform gear for vehicles, a trussed splinter-bar having a step-iron secured to the end portion thereof, said iron having a' projecting sleeve portion formed with an oblique opening therethrough to receive the splinter-bar truss rod; substantially as described.

2. In a platform gear for vehicles, a trussed splinter-bar having a stepiron secured to the end portion thereof, said iron having a projecting sleeve portion formed with an oblique opening therethrough to receive the splinter-bar truss rod, and also having a depending lug to receive the end of the truss rod and to form a seat for the securing nut thereof; substantially as described.

3. In a platform gear for vehicles, a trussed splinter-bar, and an end iron secured thereto, said iron having an oblique projecting sleeve portion formed with an aperture therethrough to receive the splinter bar truss rod; substantially as described.

4. In a platform gear for vehicles, a trans verse splinter bar having a horizontal portion at each end, each of said horizontal portions having an opening entering the same at an angle and thence extending in a more nearly horizontal direction, a plate secured to each end portion of the splinter bar and having a sleeve portion Whose opening is in line With the opening in the end portion of the bar, and a truss rod having its ends ex I tending outwardly through the respective sleeve portions and openings and havin securing means at its ends seating against the ends of the bar, the end portions of said truss rod being bent after they enter the said openings to a more nearly horizontal direction, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH ERR-ETT. WVitnesses:

OSCAR J. FREY, SAMUEL M. KELSEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

